WA Labor promise fight over solar rate cut

WEST Australian opposition leader Mark McGowan has promised to "take on" Premier Colin Barnett after the state government reneged on a 10-year undertaking for households that feed in solar power to the grid.

Mr McGowan tweeted on Sunday: "Anyone unhappy with Mr Barnett ripping up their families solar contract should come to parliament at 2.45pm Tuesday where we will take him on."

It follows Thursday's state budget in which Treasurer Troy Buswell announced that the government would halve the residential solar feed-in tariff rate to save $51 million.

The state government believes it is safe from legal action over the decision, despite many householders expressing their outrage on talkback radio.

The program, introduced in 2009, was such a success that the Liberal government had to admit in 2011 the take-up cap had been breached, costing about $46 million more than planned.

The Sustainable Energy Association says more than 75,000 WA households will be affected.

Mr McGowan described the solar backflip as another "broken promise" from the Barnett government.

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